Pate Gets Title He Had Been Missing

For Miguel Pate, winning the U.S. long jump title was the equivalent of winning an Olympic gold medal. That he defeated Athens champion Dwight Phillips made it that much sweeter.

Pate, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee two years ago and missed the Athens Games, jumped 27 feet 4 3/4 inches Thursday at the U.S. track and field championships at the Home Depot Center. Phillips jumped 27-2, giving Pate his first national outdoor title.

“That was huge,” said Pate, who couldn’t bear to watch the Olympics on TV last summer. “I can’t put it into words.”

The first day of competition, which drew an announced crowd of 5,237, was also disappointing for Athens pole vault gold medalist Tim Mack. Unable to adjust to the swirling winds, his best jump was 17-8 1/2 , placing him seventh and off the U.S. team that will compete at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, in August.

U.S. indoor champion Brad Walker won his first outdoor title at 18-10 1/4 . Sydney gold medalist Nick Hysong was second, at 18-6 1/2 , and Athens silver medalist Toby Stevenson was third, also at 18-6 1/2 . All three will go to Helsinki.

“I thought I could manage a couple more bars,” said Mack, who injured his calf last winter and couldn’t jump for two months. “It’s kind of been happening all year. I haven’t had good rhythm.”

UCLA alumna Amy Acuff won her fifth U.S. outdoor high jump title by clearing 6-2 3/4 . Chaunte Howard and Sharon Day cleared the same height and were ranked second and third based on more misses at the previous height.

“I’m really lucky,” said Acuff, who tore ligaments in her ankle at Carson last month and resumed practicing only Sunday.

Marion Jones, still well off her Sydney Olympic form and times, will run today in the first round of the women’s 100. She’s also entered in the 200. Her partner, Tim Montgomery, who lost his world record to Asafa Powell this month, is entered in the men’s 100, which also starts today.

Monique Henderson, who won the NCAA 400-meter championship two weeks ago representing UCLA, signed a professional contract with Reebok on Wednesday and competed in the first round of the 400 on Thursday. She finished third in her heat in 52.06 and advanced to today’s semifinal. Sanya Richards had the top time, 51.79.

“I just take this day and work through it and get ready for [today] and Saturday,” she said.

Jeremy Wariner, who led a U.S. sweep of the men’s 400 at Athens, eased up over the last 50 or 60 meters of his heat but led all qualifiers into the semifinals with a time of 45.29.

“I ran a really easy race and made sure I qualified for the next round,” Wariner said. “The second round is going to be fast, and the final is going to be even faster.”

Olympic bronze medalist Derrick Brew had the second-best time (45.48) and Darold Williamson, Wariner’s training partner, the third-best (45.58).

Ian Waltz, who trains at the Olympic training center in Chula Vista, Calif., won the discus with a throw of 211 feet 9 inches.... Bryan Clay of Azusa Pacific and Glendora, the Athens decathlon silver medalist, led the decathlon competition after five events with 4,322 points.... Kim Kreiner won the women’s javelin with a throw of 193 feet 5 inches and will be the only U.S. representative in the event at Helsinki.